The Historic Truce in Israel/Gaza Appears to Be Holding - Here's Why It's Saving Lives

It might be tiny, but there's finally a faint glimmer of hope in the Middle East. A four-day ceasefire came into effect between Israel and Hamas today and the early indications are that it's holding. At least 24 hostages have been freed by Hamas, in return for the release of 39 Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails. The transfer coincides with humanitarian aid being delivered again to the besieged Gaza Strip. Here's why the new development matters.

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Chunkosaurus Rex Triumphs In First-Ever Fat Squirrel Week At Dinosaur Valley State Park

In a nut-to-nut battle of fluff and fame, Chunkosaurus Rex of Dinosaur Valley State Park has officially been named Texas royalty — at least when it comes to squirrels. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wrapped up its first-ever Fat Squirrel Week, a bracket-style showdown between the state’s roundest, most charming squirrel residents. Modeled after Alaska’s beloved Fat Bear Week, this Lone Star spin crowned Chunkosaurus Rex as champion after a week of fierce online voting. The title didn’t come easy. Chunkosaurus Rex had to claw past 15 other worthy contenders, including fan-favorite finalist Chunk Norris from Fort Richardson State Park. When the final acorns were counted — in the form of Facebook likes and comments — the behemoth from Dinosaur Valley came out on top. “Dinosaur Valley is proud to be the home of this behemoth!” the park wrote online. “We appreciate all the support for Chunkosaurus Rex during this hard-fought battle.” The contest, which kicked off October 19, was dreamed up as a playful way to get more Texans engaging with their local wildlife. Sixteen squirrels from 16 different state parks were selected, with each park posting photos and bios of their fluffiest residents. But this wasn’t about weight. As Meridian State Park superintendent Carolanne Brannon explained, “Rather than measuring pounds, this Texas twist focused on heftiness, silliness, and charm.” And the competitors delivered. There was Twiggy Swift from Goose Island State Park. Stanley “The Texas Tank” from Cleburne State Park, known for his “pecan barrel” belly. And Nutella from Lake Mineral Wells, whose “training regimen” included popcorn heists and campsite snack raids “in the name of science.” Chunk Norris gave a strong final push, but in the end, it was Chunkosaurus Rex who won hearts — and the title. “I think this could be a fun way to raise awareness for our state parks,” Brannon said. “No matter the distance or size of our parks, if we're national or state, we all just love the same things.” Fans flooded social media with cheers for the chonky champion. “Was there ever a doubt that Chunkosaurus Rex would be the champion?” one commenter wrote. Others called for an expanded competition next year, more squirrels, and more time to root for their regional rodents. Organizers say they’re already planning a bigger and even more acorn-stuffed event for 2026. Until then, Texas squirrels have their marching orders: it's never too early to start working on that winter physique.

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Forget Dopamine Hacks, Purpose Might Be the Real Path to Happiness For Gen Z

Gen Z is in the middle of an unprecedented mental health crisis. Rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness are sky-high. Nearly half of Gen Zers — people aged 13 to 28 — have already been diagnosed with a mental health condition. And over 70% say they feel stressed about money, work, or the future. They’re also the most digitally connected generation in history, and ironically, one of the loneliest. Many say social media makes things worse, whether through algorithm-driven emotional manipulation or the constant comparison game with influencers who seem to have it all together. In response, a whole ecosystem of self-help trends has sprung up — dopamine detoxes, therapy-speak, happiness influencers. But new research suggests that a far simpler solution might work better: helping young people find a sense of purpose. A $400 experiment with big results Psychologist Anthony Burrow at Cornell University wanted to know what would happen if you simply gave students the chance to do something meaningful — no strings attached. So in 2019, he launched The Contribution Project. Students were handed $400 and told to use it to “pursue what matters most,” whether that meant helping themselves, their communities, or their families. The impact was immediate and measurable. Compared to peers who didn’t receive the contribution, students who got the $400 scored significantly higher on well-being, belonging, usefulness, and sense of purpose. The effects lasted for up to eight weeks after receiving the money. The idea wasn’t about buying happiness. It was about unlocking it through contribution. “Invite people to think about a contribution they want to make and help them make that contribution,” Burrow told The Washington Post, “and that person may walk around with greater purpose than if they hadn’t done that.” Even more striking: 95% of students used the funds to benefit others. Why Gen Z needs purpose now more than ever It’s not just that purpose feels good — it seems to directly protect against poor mental health. A recent study found that 58% of young adults said they felt little to no meaning in their lives in the past month. Half of them said their mental health was negatively affected by not knowing what to do with their life. That lack of direction is tied to the erosion of traditional sources of meaning. Faith, community, and even long-term career paths — the places people once looked to for purpose — are less stable or accessible than they used to be. Unsurprisingly, those who reported lacking a sense of purpose were twice as likely to struggle with anxiety and depression. The Contribution Project may seem small, but it points to something powerful: when people are given the opportunity — and the permission — to contribute in ways that matter to them, their mental health improves. Not because they’re chasing happiness, but because they’re creating meaning. It turns out, purpose might not just be the key to feeling better. It might be the thing we’re missing most.

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Astronomers Discover Trio Of Earth-Size Planets In Binary Star System, Just Like Tattooine in Star Wars

Astronomers have discovered a record-breaking trio of Earth-sized planets orbiting not one, but two stars — a find that challenges long-held assumptions about planet formation in binary systems. Using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a team of researchers has identified three rocky worlds in the TOI-2267 system, located about 190 light-years from Earth. What makes this discovery especially significant is that each of the system’s two stars hosts its own transiting planets — the first time this has ever been observed. "This makes TOI-2267 the first binary system known to host transiting planets around both of its stars," said Sebastián Zúñiga-Fernández, a researcher at the University of Liège and a member of the discovery team. Binary systems — where two stars orbit each other — were long thought to be too chaotic for stable planetary systems to form, especially when the stars orbit in close proximity. The gravitational forces in such “compact binaries” were expected to disrupt planet formation or destabilize any planets that did manage to form. But TOI-2267 defies that expectation. Not only have three planets formed, but two orbit one of the stars, while the third orbits the companion star. It’s a rare and unexpected arrangement that suggests planetary formation in binary systems may be more robust than once believed. “Our discovery breaks several records,” said Francisco J. Pozuelos, study co-leader and researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía. “It is the most compact and coldest pair of stars with planets known, and it is also the first in which planets have been recorded transiting around both components.” The three Earth-sized planets were first hinted at through data collected by TESS and flagged using a custom detection tool called SHERLOCK. That prompted the team to conduct follow-up observations using several ground-based observatories specially equipped for hunting small exoplanets around faint stars. These included the SPECULOOS network in Chile and Tenerife and the twin TRAPPIST telescopes in Belgium. With their help, the researchers confirmed the existence of the planets and uncovered the unexpected structure of the system. "This system is a true natural laboratory for understanding how rocky planets can emerge and survive under extreme dynamical conditions," Pozuelos said. Beyond breaking records, the TOI-2267 system opens the door to deeper exploration. Because of their size and location, these planets are prime candidates for future study with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and upcoming ground-based telescopes. Scientists hope to gather precise data on the planets' masses, densities, and potentially even their atmospheric chemistry. “Discovering three Earth-sized planets in such a compact binary system is a unique opportunity,” said Zúñiga-Fernández. “It allows us to test the limits of planet formation models in complex environments and to better understand the diversity of possible planetary architectures in our galaxy.” The system also offers a visually compelling possibility: dual sunsets. Much like the fictional planet Tatooine in Star Wars, the worlds in TOI-2267 could experience starsets from both their suns — an evocative image that underscores how strange and varied planetary systems can be. The team’s findings were published on October 24 in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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NICU Babies Embrace Halloween Spirit With Spooky Costumes

Tiny patients in a neonatal intensive care unit have donned their spookiest outfits for Halloween. The premature and poorly babies - who are in the Cleveland Clinic Children's NICU - got into the Halloween spirit by dressing as a ladybug, boxer, and cheerleader for the celebration. Other tots in the unit wore outfits such as a penguin, a football, a skeleton, and Sully from Monsters Inc. to celebrate the spooky season. The miniature costumes were donated - some outfits were even crocheted outfits by NBabies in NICU don spooky outfits for Halloween ICU caregivers, while others were brought in by parents. "Dressing our babies in costumes brings moments of connection to families during what can be an uncertain time," said Julie Gamary, NICU nurse manager. "It's a small gesture that helps families celebrate milestones and create special memories, even in the hospital setting. During what can be an emotional time for our families, we hope this fun event brings them joy. We'd say Halloween couldn't be sweeter."

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Wearable Patch Detects Early Signs Of Deadly Skin Cancer, Offering Hope For Easier Home Screening

A new wearable patch could transform how we detect the deadliest form of skin cancer — without the need for needles, batteries, or even a trip to the doctor. Developed by researchers at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, the lightweight patch can pick up early signs of melanoma by measuring subtle changes in the skin’s electrical properties. It’s battery-free, chip-free, and wireless, making it a promising tool for at-home screening. “Skin cancer is most treatable when caught early,” said Dr. Mohammad Moghimi, who led the development. “But many people don’t have easy access to specialised dermatology care.” That’s what the patch is designed to change. Using a small external reader, the patch detects what’s known as bioimpedance — a measure of how easily electrical signals pass through tissue. Cancerous lesions tend to have different electrical profiles than healthy skin, and this tool can pick up those differences. In a small trial of 10 volunteers, researchers placed the patch over a suspicious mole or lesion and then over nearby healthy skin. The device used safe, low-level electrical signals to measure bioimpedance, and statistical analysis showed clear differences between normal and abnormal tissue. “It could empower patients and primary care providers to monitor suspicious skin lesions and seek help sooner,” Moghimi said. Unlike standard methods that rely on visual inspection or invasive biopsies, the patch offers objective, numerical data — reducing the chances of missed diagnoses and unnecessary procedures. It also works across all skin tones, a key benefit in a field where darker skin has often been underserved or misdiagnosed. Beyond its technical promise, the patch is also designed to be practical. It’s disposable, low-cost, and doesn’t rely on built-in electronics, making it easier to scale for wider use. The team hopes to improve the device further by adding conductive hydrogel electrodes for better comfort and accuracy. Larger clinical trials are planned to evaluate its effectiveness in real-world settings and to see how reliably it can distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. “Our goal is to make early skin cancer detection accessible to everyone,” Moghimi said. “By providing a tool that can be used at home or in primary care settings, we hope to reduce the number of missed or late diagnoses and improve patient outcomes.” The study was published in the journal npj Biomedical Innovations.

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A Nonprofit Rescued 180 Dogs And A Turtle After Devastating Floods in Alaska

When historic flooding forced hundreds of Alaskans to evacuate remote villages earlier this month, many had no choice but to leave their pets behind. Now, a small but determined nonprofit has stepped in to rescue them — including at least 180 dogs and, in one case, a classroom turtle. Bethel Friends of Canines (BFK9), an animal rescue based in the western Alaska hub of Bethel, has been working around the clock to reach villages cut off by floodwaters and high surf from the remnants of Typhoon Halong. The storm slammed into Alaska’s western coast with strong winds and heavy waves, triggering evacuations in communities with no road access in or out. For BFK9, that isolation posed one of the biggest challenges. “It is hard for people outside of Alaska, and even some in Alaska, to fathom not being able to just drive and save these dogs,” said Jenna Stewart, the nonprofit's director of development. Instead, the group has relied on an informal network of pilots and small airlines willing to fly into affected areas with kennels — and fly out with animals in tow. The organization, which normally takes in around 500 animals a year, has more than tripled its usual pace in just a few weeks. They’ve also leaned on locals who stayed behind. In Kipnuk, one of the hardest-hit villages, a group of teachers and residents began gathering dogs for the rescue flights. Without proper carriers, they got creative. “The first dogs they sent in to us arrived in a plastic tote and a couple puppies in a Spiderman backpack,” said Stewart. “They had nothing else to hold these dogs, but knew they had to get out of the village and to safety with BFK9.” The group has rescued mostly dogs, though this month marked a first: a red-eared slider turtle, once a classroom pet, is now recovering in Bethel under the care of a local vet. Cats are rarely found in Alaska’s remote coastal communities, Stewart said. The group might see three to five cats a year, at most. Once the dogs reach Bethel, the work isn’t done. BFK9 immediately begins efforts to reunite them with their owners. In tight-knit communities where “everyone knows everyone’s dog,” as Stewart put it, that process is usually straightforward. For unidentified animals, the group shares photos online, and offers temporary foster care until the owners are ready. But not every dog is easy to catch. As of Friday, BFK9 was still hearing from villages about animals in need of help. “A lot of these dogs left out there are the scared ones,” said Stewart. “They are so scared, and so confused and are hiding. This ordeal is far from over.” The rescue operation has drawn support from across the state and beyond. BFK9 is now partnering with national and local groups like Humane World of Animals, Best Friends Animal Rescue, and the August Fund in Anchorage to house and care for rescued dogs. Stewart says the outpouring of help has been overwhelming — and essential. “Bethel Friends of Canines has an incredible village,” she said. “We are doing great things, but we couldn't do it without all the people helping us.” With more flood-affected animals still being reported, the group isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

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A Fish Named Arnie Just Swam Into The Record Books

A fish named Arnie has just swam into the record books. The four-year-old Murray cod stunned scientists in Australia by swimming more than 850 kilometers through one of the country’s largest river systems — a distance not previously recorded for the species. First tagged in early 2022 in Mullaroo Creek, about 900 kilometers west of Sydney, Arnie’s journey started when floodwaters hit the region that spring. The young fish, weighing just under 1.7 kilograms at the time, took advantage of newly opened barriers along the Murray River to begin a massive upstream trek. “It basically provided free passage for fish,” said Zeb Tonkin, a researcher at the Arthur Rylah Institute, part of the state of Victoria’s department of energy, environment and climate action. Arnie swam 756 kilometers upstream in less than two months — a distance Tonkin said is “way beyond” what researchers have ever seen. The previous known record for a Murray cod was around 160 kilometers. Sometime in the past year, Arnie turned around and began making his way back, covering another 97 kilometers downstream. Altogether, his round-trip journey clocked in at about 853 kilometers. The discovery came to light only a few weeks ago, when researchers compared tracking data during a routine data-sharing exercise. Tonkin said it came as a complete surprise. “We've been working on these species for decades... and we haven't come across that sort of scale of movement beforehand,” he said. The marathon swim isn’t just impressive — it’s meaningful. The Murray cod is a long-living freshwater predator and a key indicator of ecosystem health in Australia’s largest river system. According to the Australian government, a healthy Murray cod population often signals a healthy river. “If we see this species breeding, growing well, migrating well, it's a pretty good indication that the ecosystem in general is pretty healthy,” said Tonkin. The fish, named after Olympic swimming champion Ariarne Titmus, was one of many tagged as part of a decade-long research initiative aimed at understanding native fish movement and improving environmental water management. The program is jointly run with the Mallee Catchment Management Authority and funded by the Living Murray initiative, a state-supported program overseen by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. The Murray cod is Australia’s largest freshwater fish. While Arnie weighed only a few pounds when tagged, the species can grow to nearly 2 meters in length and tip the scales at over 80 kilograms. They’ve been known to live more than 48 years. They’re also increasingly rare. The species is listed as “vulnerable” under Australia’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Populations have dropped sharply in recent decades due to a combination of factors: overfishing, habitat degradation, and the damming and regulation of rivers. “More recently, overfishing, river degradation and human modification of the environment have caused major population declines,” according to the Australian Museum. “Murray cod are now relatively uncommon in most areas.” Even in places where they’re still found, their behavior is notoriously difficult to track. Arnie’s journey is providing new insight into just how far a healthy Murray cod is capable of traveling when conditions allow it. That’s key for water managers, who are tasked with releasing flows that can mimic natural flood patterns. With better data on fish migration, those flows can be timed and designed to support breeding, feeding, and safe passage for native species. Tonkin said the team will continue to follow Arnie and other tagged fish in the area, hoping to learn more. For now, though, the surprise athlete has already made his mark. “We didn’t expect to see this,” said Tonkin. “But it shows what’s possible when river systems are connected and healthy.”

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80-Year-Old Woman Who Conquered The Appalachian Trail Just Set a New Record

While most people celebrate turning 80 with cake and candles, Betty Kellenberger marked hers with a backpack and hiking boots — and by breaking a record. The Michigan native just became the oldest woman ever to complete the entire Appalachian Trail, a staggering 3,500-kilometre trek that stretches across 14 U.S. states and involves an elevation gain equal to climbing Mount Everest 16 times. “You see incredible parts of our country, things that you wouldn’t see otherwise,” Kellenberger said. “So much wildlife. It’s just gorgeous.” She grew up on a farm in Howell, Michigan, where she first learned about the trail. For decades, she dreamed of hiking it from Georgia to Maine. But the time commitment — about six months — never quite fit. Then, with no spouse or children and nothing holding her back, she decided 2024 was the year to try. What followed was the adventure of a lifetime. Kellenberger's trek wasn’t without setbacks. She faced dehydration, a concussion from a fall, and even contracted Lyme disease. At one point, Hurricane Helene forced her off the trail entirely as it swept through the eastern U.S., pausing her hike near the Virginia border. Still, she pressed on. Kellenberger rerouted north in the spring of 2025 and tackled some of the trail’s most difficult terrain through New England — enduring slick rocks, steep climbs, and unpredictable weather until the very end. As she got closer to finishing, other hikers started to take notice. She was on track to beat the record previously held by Linda Vanderloop, who completed the trail at age 74 in 2024. But for Kellenberger, the journey was never about records. “You hike alone, and so you have your thoughts and you have time, and you have, you know, the presence of God and all that magnificent scenery,” she told WOOD. “But it’s the people you meet. It’s the shuttlers. It’s the folks that were hiking with you... it’s experience. It’s a love.” Reaching the end came with a flood of emotions. “So you’re a basket case,” she laughed. “You have so many emotions because you’re excited about finishing. I was really looking forward to saying, ‘I am done.’ But you also know you’re going to miss this big time. You’re not going to have what you have out on that trail. That peace, the serenity.” She said the hardest parts were also the most rewarding: Maine and New Hampshire, with their rugged mountains and unpredictable terrain. But by the end of it all, Kellenberger said she felt stronger than ever. “Now I’m in the best shape of my life,” she said. Reflecting on the hike, she offered some advice for anyone thinking about taking on something big. “This life is a journey. And it may be a series of little journeys. Or maybe just the whole life is a journey,” she said. “And the bigger your efforts, the greater the reward.” For Betty Kellenberger, that reward came with every step, every sunrise, and finally, the finish line.

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Researchers Make Progress In Effort To Boost Poland’s Only Native Turtle Species

A conservation project in central Poland has reached a promising milestone: every single one of the 50 European pond turtles raised last year in captivity has survived. Biologists at the University of Łódź, in partnership with the Łódź Orientarium Zoo and regional institutions, announced the success this week as part of their long-term effort to restore the country’s only native turtle species, which is believed to be extinct in the Łódź region. “In the wild, only about 1% of hatchlings survive due to predators,” the university’s biology department said in a Facebook post. “Bigger equals safer. Breeding allows the young to grow larger, which dramatically increases their chances of survival once released into the wild.” The project, which aims to reintroduce roughly 150 turtles into protected parks in Łódź province over the next few years, takes hatchlings from Poland’s Polesie National Park — home to the country’s largest population of European pond turtles, estimated at around 1,500 — and raises them in specially designed indoor enclosures for their first three years. Those enclosures simulate natural conditions while protecting the young turtles from threats such as foxes and raccoons. The turtles are exposed to seasonal temperatures, natural sunlight and UVB rays, and must forage for food on their own — all to keep their survival instincts sharp. “The European pond turtle has disappeared from our region mainly due to human activity – wetland drainage, pollution and predation,” the department of biology said. “Now, by joining forces, we have a chance to reverse this trend.” Two cohorts of 50 turtles were brought to the zoo in September 2024 and September 2025. The first group, now one year into the three-year rearing process, has shown excellent results. “The turtles have grown significantly and are in excellent condition,” the university reported. Once widespread across central Poland, the European pond turtle has been in steep decline for decades due to habitat loss, water contamination, and invasive predators. The species has been under strict protection in Poland since 1935 but continues to face the threat of extinction. Now, with controlled rearing giving the turtles a fighting chance, conservationists are hopeful that self-sustaining wild populations can one day return to the region. The reintroduction plan focuses on two landscape parks in Łódź province, where researchers believe conditions are suitable for the turtles to eventually thrive without human support. “It’s a major step,” the university said. “We’re not just helping a species survive. We’re working to bring it home.”

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In New Orleans, Brass Bands Don’t Just Play Music — They Carry a City’s Soul

When a trumpet sounds on the corner of Dauphine and Toulouse, everything stops. Traffic yields. Heads turn. What starts as a solemn hymn — maybe “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” — soon rises into something joyful, even defiant. This is a second line parade, one of New Orleans’ most powerful traditions: a moment of public mourning that transforms into celebration, sorrow lifted by rhythm. Here, grief marches side by side with joy. And always, always with a brass band leading the way. Second lines are part funeral procession, part block party. The term “second line” refers to the people who follow behind the musicians — dancers, friends, and onlookers drawn into the moment. But these parades don’t only mark funerals. They happen at weddings, birthdays, holidays, and anytime the city decides something is worth remembering or honoring. At the center of it all are the brass musicians, decked out in pressed white shirts and black pants, wielding trombones, sousaphones, and snares. They’re not just playing music. They’re carrying tradition. “If you grow up here, the African drumbeats, the dancing, which goes back to slavery and to Congo Square, that stuff is in our DNA,” says Roger Lewis, 83, a founding member of the world-renowned Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Formed in 1972 out of a church marching band, Dirty Dozen helped change the sound and shape of brass music. They’ve toured five continents and shared stages with legends from Dizzy Gillespie to Elvis Costello, yet they still play small shows in New Orleans warehouses for a few dollars at the door. That’s how it is here. As jazz legend Ellis Marsalis once said, “In New Orleans, culture doesn’t come down from on high. It bubbles up from the streets.” And brass music is very much street-born. Its origins trace back to the late 1800s, when military instruments and African rhythms merged. Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs — groups that once offered financial support to newly freed slaves — began hiring bands to play at funerals and parades. Over time, brass music soaked in gospel, bebop, funk, and eventually, hip-hop. “We played the same, traditional songs, but we picked that beat up. I mean up,” says Lewis. “I used to say, ‘Wear tennis shoes and your jogging suit. You may lose 40 pounds parading with us.’” That energy shaped the next generation. In the early ’80s, high schoolers in the Tremé neighborhood — too young to play in clubs — took their sound to the streets. That group became the Rebirth Brass Band, now a Grammy-winning act that still plays weekly shows in town. “I think, in terms of sound, we continued what the Dirty Dozen set down,” says Keith Frazier, Rebirth’s bass drummer. “Hip-hop and jazz and reggae… with these instruments, you can do anything.” Neighborhoods shaped the music too. “Uptown guys play it a little faster. The Tremé loves a more traditional set, whereas New Orleans East has a hip-hop fan base,” Frazier explains. “I’m from the Upper Ninth Ward, which is kind of traditional mixed with modern. I think that’s the beauty of brass music. It’s never one thing, or even one part of the city.” But for decades, brass bands were mostly male. That’s changing, slowly. Christie Jourdain leads The Original Pinettes — the first all-female brass band in New Orleans, founded in 1991. “I came out of the ’80s/MTV generation,” she says. “I was listening to Peter Gabriel and Prince rather than the traditionals or Gospel.” With the help of a high school band director, the Pinettes carved out space in a male-dominated scene. “At first people called us ‘cute,’” Jourdain remembers. “Then we’d kick the doors down when we played.” In 2013, they beat out several male bands at a citywide Red Bull competition, forcing organizers to rename the event from “Street Kings” to “Street Queens.” Their success paved the way for newer acts like Bra’s Band, another all-women group formed in 2021. “I got a request to put together an all-ladies brass group for the Krewe of Boheme Mardi Gras parade,” says Bra’s Band leader Maude Caillat. “It wasn’t easy. There aren’t enough women playing brass.” Today, her group includes about 15 women, though only a handful play each gig — a common practice in New Orleans where musicians juggle multiple bands, jobs, and obligations. “French Quarter Fest is my favorite,” says Jourdain. “They recruit homegrown talent and pay well. I wish others would do the same. We all have second jobs now. That’s why a seven-piece band might have 12 members, so people can schedule around work. The pay is something we need to address as a city. Because what is New Orleans without brass music?” It’s a fair question. One few locals want to answer. Ron Rona, former artistic director at the historic Preservation Hall, says it best: “Many brass bands emerge from high school marching band relationships... these musicians often end up knowing their bandmates for much of their lives. Then, whether organically or formally, many serve as musical mentors to the kids coming up. It’s cyclical and familial, and that’s not something too many other cities can claim.” In New Orleans, that cycle plays out daily. A young couple might be getting married right now, just a few blocks from Congo Square. The trumpet player from Kinfolk might look at the bride and say, “You ready?” She’ll nod, lift her parasol, and step into the street. Behind her: a century of tradition, joy, rhythm, and grief — and a brass band that won’t let the music stop.

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